Who Do You Say That I Am? – Examining the Claims of Matthew 16 (Part 1) | Weighed in the Balance Ep. 10

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Jonathan Brooks and Alex Lott begin a three-part series responding to a video by Cameron Riker, who argues that Matthew 16 supports the Roman Catholic claim to papal authority. While acknowledging Riker’s sincerity and catechetical background, Jonathan and Alex take a close look at what the text actually says—starting with the foundational question Jesus asks His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"They explore the historical and theological weight of Peter’s confession, discuss the significance of the title “Son of Man,” and contrast biblical teaching with popular but flawed interpretations of eschatology and ecclesiology. This first episode lays the groundwork by focusing on Christ as the center of the passage—before engaging with the Catholic claims.Along the way, they reference early Christian commentary and Reformed exegesis, including:John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16: https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lii.htmlJohn Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 16: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200154.htmResponding to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959sKey Topics:What Jesus meant by “Son of Man”The significance of Peter’s confessionWhy this passage is Christ-centered, not Peter-centeredProblems with reading Matthew 16 through a Roman Catholic lensThe Berean model of testing claims against ScriptureScripture Explored:Matthew 16:13–20Daniel 7Matthew 28:18–20Luke 24 (Road to Emmaus)Let me know if you'd like a shorter version, or one tailored for podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.Support the showDo you think this claim is found wanting? Let us know on social!! Click here to find us everywhere!!